Can opener



June 15, 1954 J HUGHES 2,680,904

CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 17, 1952 FIG. 4.

FIG. 6.

34 .28 2 FIG. 5.

' 36 INVENTOR.

PETER J'. HUGHES BYM)&NN\'\ FIG. 7. I x

ATTORNEYS Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CAN OPENER Peter J. Hughes, Plymouth Meeting, Pa. Application October 17, 1952, Serial No. 315,225

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a can opener and, more particularly, to a can opener of the type adapted to be hooked under an end rim of a can and adapted, upon upward movement of a handle portion of the opener, to cut an opening in the flat top or end surface of the can.

The openers heretofore employed for cutting an opening in the end of a can have provided a triangular opening with a point of the triangle on the inward corner of the opening with respect to the end of the can and a base of the triangle parallel with a chord line extending across the end of the can and having this flat edge adjacent to the circumference of the can. These openers provide an opening in the end of a can by first piercing a hole at the radially innermost point of contact of the opener with the end of the can and thereafter progressively cutting the end of the can along two lines simultaneously extending from the innermost point outwardly to substantially the circumferential edge of the head of the can.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an opener which, upon operation, initiates a cut in the head of a can substantially adjacent to the circumference of a can, and thereafter cuts progressively generally toward the center of the can.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a can opener by means of which an opening is provided in the head of a can which is cut first adjacent to the periphery of the can and then cut progressively inwardly from the periphery of the can along a first chord line extending across the head of the can and thereafter along a second chord line forming an angle with the first chord line for a distance sufficient that there is provided after the termination of the cutting a triangular opening in the can with one point of the triangle adjacent to the periphery of the can, the metal displaced from the triangle being turned downwardly from one of the edges of the triangular opening extending inwardly from the periphery of the can.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective showing of the improved can opener;

Figure 2 is a top view of the opener shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the opener shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternate form of the type of opener shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top view of the opener shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an end View of the Opener shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view of the end of a can in which a out has been made with the opener shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The opener, as shown generally at 2 in Figure 1, includes a strip of material 4 which is preferably a steel strip of rectangular cross section from which the opener is formed. Adjacent to one end of the strip there is provided an irregular shaped opening or notch 5 which provides a hook or a lip 6 which is adapted to engage the rim of a can when the opening 5 is placed over the rim of the can.

The cutter portion of the opener extends to the right from the opening 5, as viewed in Figure 1,

and includes a portion 7 of the strip 4 which is bent at a slight angle to the strip along a bend line 8. The lower edge of the portion 7 of the strip is ground to form cutting edges of generally V formation extending outwardly from the opening 5 as indicated at 10 and I2. The cutting edges I 0 and I2 join at a lowermost point 9. The

cutting edge I2 extends outwardly from the lowermost point 9 and upwardly to the end of the strip portion 1 terminating in the region of approximately the center of the end of the strip. The upper portion M of the end of the strip is formed at an angle of slightly greater than with respect to the portion 7 and extends from approximately the bend line 8 to the end of the strip. The outer generally horizontally extending portion [6 of the bent portion I4 is ground to provide a cutting edge which forms a continuation of the cutting edge I2 extending at an angle thereto. The portion i4 is bent toward the longitudinal axis of the strip 4 so that the cutting edge I 6 extends across an extension of the longitudinal axis of the strip 4.

When the opener is employed, the hook 6 is engaged below the rim of a can and the left-hand end of the strip 4 is gripped by the user. The cutting edges are rotated about the rim of the can by upward force applied to the left-hand end of the strip 4. The base 9 of the V between the edge surfaces In and I2 pierces the end of the can in a region relatively close to the rim. Thus there is obtained for the initial piercing of the can a maximum mechanical advantage. After the initial hole is pierced, continued rotation of the handle will cause the cutting edge I 2 to move downwardly and cut the surface of the end of the can progressively away from the rim of the can. When the entire blade port-ion 12 has cut through the head of the can, the blade portion 16 of the flap portion i l will commence produc ing a progressive cut in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of the cut produced by the cutting edge [2. This cut is progressively made due to the fact that the flap M is so formed that the end thereof is at an angle of more than 90 to the end of the portion 1 of the cutter and the cutting edge i2 thereof.

During these latter two cuts, the cutting edge it will extend the originally pierced hole in the can outwardly to approximately adjacent to the rim of the can. Upon the completion of a cut, when the handle 4 is in an upward position oi approximately 45 from the horizontal, the cutting edge it will be approximately parallel to the side wall of the can which extends fromthe end of the can in which the opening has been out. A flap of metal cutirom the end it of the can will be turned inwardly into'the can, as indicated at '18 in Figurel, and there willbejprovided in the can a triangular shaped out having cut edges 28 and 22. "The'fla'p l8 extendinginwardly from the head of the can will have been turned downwardly or inwardly'by the'flapiportion it of the opener and no difficulty is experienced in removing the opener from the can after the opening has been out.

An alternate form or" the inventionis shown in Figures 4,5 and 6 in which a strip of metal 23 is provided with a cutout or notch 25 which provides a hook or lip2i3 which is adapted'to engage the rim or a can. A right-hand end portion 2': of thestrip 2G is formed at an angle to the strip 23 along a bend line 2S'which is inclinedfrom a line extendin transversely of the strip is and perpendicular'tothelongitudinal axis of the strip 2d.

The edge of the portion 2? extending from the notch 25is provided with ground cutting edges 3:: and 32 in the arrangement similar to the cutting edges described in connection with the opener shown in'Figure'l. The cutting edge 32 extends toward the end of the portionZl of the opener. The cuttin edge 3% extends toward the notch 2'5 and the two'cutting edges meet at a lowermost pointdi. The portion I21 of the opener is formed to'piovide a portion 3 3 at'an angle thereto greater than 90 extending .from the 'point at the end of the opener where the blade32 meets the end ofthe opener and extendinglback'to'the bend line 28. The outer end of the portion 3 1 is ground to provide a cutting edget'fiwhich acts during the cutting operation as a continuation of should be noted that in this form oi'the invention the flap portion 34 is of considerable width adjacent to the bend '28 and a portion 38 of the strip'id on the opposite side of the'bend line 28 fromthe'flapgfi'is formed to extend outwardly from the strip in the opposite direction from that oftheflap 34.

It will be evident that the two modifications described herein are merely minor variations of the invention. Therelative angles of the various cutting edges and the relativelengths of the cutting edges may be selected as required depending upon the desired size and shape of the-.cut to .be made in the can. Similarly, the .angle of the bend line 8, in the opener shown in Figure 1,

and the'angle of thebend line 28,;in the opener shown in Figure 4, may beiselected to facilitate the formin of an opener havin the necessary dimensions in order .to provide an opening of:a particular sizeiand shape. 7

the cutting edge 32. "It

It will also be evident that the strips 4 or 24 in the openers shown in the drawings may be covered at their left-hand ends in order to provide an enlarged and more comfortable handle for the operator. Alternately, the left-hand end portions of each of these strips may be twisted so that the strip lies on a plane displaced 90 from the plane of the strip shown and thus a broad flatlsuriace would be=provided-upon which pressure mayfibe appliedibyathe operators hand when using the opener. While the opener has been described as preferably being formed of that the steel will gensteel, it will be evident erally be plated to provide suitable rust resistrancezor. to provide resistance to chemical reaction with materials within the cans to be opened. Theseahdother -modifications may be made to theembodiment of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is: V

l. A devicefor producing an opening'in the end wall of a container having an end rim comprising a handle, cuttingmeans extending from. one end of said handle, and means adjacentto the juncture of said handle and said cutting 'meansfor engaging the rim of the endofthe container and providing aifulcrum .about which said cutting'meansmaybe rotated by rotation of said handle thereabout, said cutting-means comprising a cutting edge extending outwardly from said handle and having at itsouter end a cutting edge extending sidewardlyrat an angle thereto.

2. A device 'for producing an opening'in the end wall of a container'having an end rim com prising a'handle, cutting meansex'tending from one end of said handle, and means adjacentto the juncture of said handle .and said cutting means for engagingthe rim of the end of the container'and providing afulcrum about which said "cutting means may be rotated by rotation of said handle thereabout,.said cutting means comprising a single cutting .edge extending outwardly from saidhandle and'having atitsouter end acutting edge extendin sidewardly atan angle thereto of "greater than 3. A device for producing aipouring opening in the end all of a container having an end rim comprising a handle, *cuttingmneans extending from one end of said handle, and means'adjacent to the juncture of said handle 'andvsaid :cutting' means for engagingthe-rim of the end 'of'the container and providing a fulcrum about which said'cutting means'may 'be rotatedby upward'rotation of said handle thereabout, said cutting means comprising a vertically extending 'memberhaving its lower edge formed with a cutting edge extending outwardly from said handle and a generally horizontally extending- 'member pro-' videdalong its-outer edge with "a cutting edge;

the second mentioned cutting. edge forming a continuation of the first mentioned-cutting-edge.

4. A device for producing a pouring opening in the end wall of a -container'lriaving-an end rim comprising a handle, cutting means extending fromoneendofsaid handle, and means *adjacent to the juncture of said "handle and said cutting means for engaging therim of the end of .the :container :and providing a fu'lcrumabout which said cutting means maylbe rotatedby-upward rotation o'i said handle thereabout, said cuttin means comprising a vertically extending member having its lower e'dge formedwith-a cutting edge of generally V formation as it-extends Y outwardly from said handle an'dm generally horizontally extendingmem'ber *provided along outer edge with a cutting edge, the second mentioned cutting edge forming a continuation of the first mentioned cutting edge.

5. A device for producing a pouring opening in the end wall of a container having an end rim comprising a handle, cutting means extending from one end of said handle at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said handle, and means adjacent to the juncture of said handle and said cutting means for engaging the rim of the end of the container and providing a fulcrum about which said cutting means may be rotated by upward rotation of said handle thereabout, said cutting means comprising a vertically extending member having its lower edge formed with a cutting edge extending outwardly from said handle and a generally horizontally extending member provided along its outer edge with a cutting edge, the second mentioned cutting edge forming a continuation of the first mentioned cutting edge and extending across an extension of the longitudinal axis of said handle.

6. A device for producing a pouring opening in the end wall of a container having an end rim comprising a handle, cutting means extending from one end of said handle, and means adjacent to the juncture of said handle and said cutting means for engaging the rim of the end of the container and providing a fulcrum about which said cutting means may be rotated by upward rotation of said handle about the rim, said cutting means comprising a vertically extending member having its lower edge formed with a cutting edge extending outwardly from said handle and having a first portion extending outwardly and downwardly from said means for engaging the rim of the container and thereafter extending upwardly to the end of the cutting means, said cutting means also including a generally horizontally extending member provided along its outer edge with a cutting edge, the second mentioned cutting edge forming a continuation of the outer end of the first mentioned cutting edge, said first portion of the first mentioned cutting edge being formed to lie substantially parallel to the side of the can extending away from the end of the can after the opening has been produced in the can by the first and second mentioned cutting edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

